Monterey County Sheriff candidates meet in Salinas forum

SALINAS &GT;&GT; Monterey County sheriff candidates disagreed on the nature of the job and overtime costs but agreed on some issues Monday at a forum for the legal community.

Candidates Mike Richards, Steve Bernal and current sheriff Scott Miller used the two hours to discuss overtime costs, education, the county jail, endorsements and other topics.

A fourth candidate in the June 3 primary, Fred Garcia, had a previous engagement, organizers said.

The sharpest differences were between Bernal, a deputy in the Sheriff's Office, and Miller.

"I think the role of sheriff is more of a public figure," Bernal said when asked about management experience. "Somebody who builds relationships within the community. My plan is to build an administration of administrators who have been there . . . They have that experience. They will see my 10-year plan through."

Miller said Bernal's interpretation of sheriff as "figurehead" was incorrect.

"I guarantee I work 60- and 80-hour weeks to get this stuff done," Miller said. "It's working with the county government, community groups . . . the Sheriff's Office, the other cities within the county, working up in Sacramento to make sure the right legislation is passed."

A dozen people attended the forum at the law offices of Miguel Hernandez in Salinas. It was put on by the county Public Defender's Office and Bar Association.

Education

The candidates were asked about their level of education, which put Bernal at a disadvantage because he does not have college degrees.

"I don't have all those degrees," Bernal said. "I have a degree in street smarts."

Bernal said he has experience from a combined 15 years as a patrol and jail deputy, has taken classes on interrogation, as well as health and safety issues.

Richards said he has obtained certifications in management, advance officer safety, internal affairs and other topics. He has an associate's degree in engineering, he said.

Miller has an associate's degree in general studies, a bachelor's degree in organizational behavior, a master's degree in management and graduated from two other programs at the FBI National Academy and California POST Command College.

"As far as street smarts," Miller said, "I did work on the street and arrested thousands of people."

Overtime

Overtime costs have been a constant talking point throughout the election but exact numbers from anyone other than the sheriff have been difficult to come by.

A public records request to Monterey County counsel made four weeks ago by The Herald for overtime costs at the Sheriff's Office has yet to be fulfilled.

In 2012, a civil grand jury report on several county departments claimed the Sheriff's Office had "excessive levels" of overtime — over budget by more than $1 million at the Sheriff's Office and $842,032 at the jail that fiscal year.

Miller said at the time other salary savings, including the elimination of two dozen sworn positions, covered the difference.

Richards said overtime excess was the result of a lack of new hires for Miller's first two years as sheriff.

"From what I understand," Bernal said at the forum, "overtime in the past three years has been about $16 million. How many deputies could we have hired for that money?"

Miller said Bernal was "only off by $10 million" and "that's a crazy number."

He said when he started as sheriff he was told he had to reduce the operating budget by $12 million. Hiring resumed after he "got the budget back to where it needed to be."

Monterey County Jail

The candidates largely agreed more improvements were needed at the county jail.

Miller said he planned to hire an ombudsman to advocate for inmates.

Richards said he normally doesn't see eye-to-eye with the sheriff but it seemed like a good idea in concept and he would like to learn more about it.

Bernal said he would take a wait-and-see approach to the plan.

Bernal also said he wanted to collaborate with Hartnell College to train inmates on how to get agricultural jobs.

Endorsements

The sheriff announced earlier that day he had received the endorsements of Gov. Jerry Brown and Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, but his opponents continued to vent about the county Deputy Sheriff's Association's endorsement.

Miller got the most votes, 36 percent, but did not get the more than 50 percent needed for the endorsement. Garcia got 21 percent, Bernal got 16 percent and Richards received 9 percent.

Miller said he was glad to receive the most votes and saw it as a sign he was heading in the right direction because he's had to fire and discipline people, as well as changing some employees from 12-hour to 10-hour shifts.

Richards said only a third of members voted because they were scared of retaliation "by leaving an electronic footprint with that vote."

Bernal claimed the vote had more to do with Miller's recent hires.

"I can tell you that Sheriff Miller just hired 40 new deputies . . . and we believe those are the votes he got," he said.